March 14, 2023 — The World Council of Optometry (WCO) has announced the theme for the 2023 World Optometry Week, taking place March 19-25, and World Optometry Day on Thursday, March 23.
 
With this year’s theme, “Expanding Optometry’s Role…The Time Is Now,” WCO intends to advocate for stronger access to eye care worldwide while ensuring that all optometrists have the education and skills to thrive within their health care systems.
 
“World Optometry Day provides an opportunity for optometry to reflect on its current and possible future roles in expanding access to quality and equitable eye care,” says WCO president Peter Hendicott. “This calls for optometry to consider our responsibilities and potential roles within health care delivery systems to identify how we can make a maximal contribution to reducing the burden of eye disease and its impact. We need to ensure that optometrists worldwide possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and competencies to effectively move our profession forward to better serve our communities.”
 
According to WCO, recent resolutions from the World Health Assembly and United Nations have adopted ambitious but achievable eyecare targets. With “the time is now” theme, WCO calls on all optometrists and their organizations to work proactively with other eyecare professions, along with governments, to achieve improved eye care worldwide.

Click here for a statement from WCO president Peter Hendicott.
 
For more information: worldcouncilofoptometry.info.